Y'all's thoughts on the good, old CG5's replacement?
Celestron VX mount
Started by
rmollise
, Jan 09 2013 07:52 AM
1139 replies to this topic
#2
Ouranos
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:04 AM
Rod - where can you find information on this particular mount?
#3
fuzzystuff4ever
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:04 AM
Where is there information about it? I looked on Celestron's site and on several vendor sites and can't find any mention of it.
Brian
Brian
#4
Jon Isaacs
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:04 AM
Y'all's thoughts on the good, old CG5's replacement?
Got a link? Not finding much with Google.
Jon
#5
johnpd
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:04 AM
Unc,
Where did you find this?
JohnD
Where did you find this?
JohnD
#6
Jon Isaacs
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:06 AM
Unc,
Where did you find this?
JohnD
Uncle Rod secretly runs Celestron, has for years. He just put that out there to get a little pre-announcement advertising.
Jon
#7
johnpd
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:17 AM
I see an announcement of that and other new Celestron products in the Vendor's forum but no real specs.
JohnD
JohnD
#8
mclewis1
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:17 AM
From the Astronomics folks ...
Completely re engineered
PPEC
Wider latitude range
Tracking past the meridian
Autoguider port (which the CG-5 already has)
New motors (which should mean new gearbox and therefore hopefully won't have the 8/3 period errors)
RTC
Screw on power connector
Price is $100 more than the CG-5 so presumably $899 USD list.
So some questions ...
Type of bearings used on both axis?
Same tripod?
If not is the tripod to mount head attachment the same (can the same accessories like pier extensions be used)?
Same counterweights?
Motor controller board different? (should obviously be different but had to ask)
Height of mount head the same?
Vixen/CG-5 dovetail saddle? Better setup than original?
External DEC cable?
Completely re engineered
PPEC
Wider latitude range
Tracking past the meridian
Autoguider port (which the CG-5 already has)
New motors (which should mean new gearbox and therefore hopefully won't have the 8/3 period errors)
RTC
Screw on power connector
Price is $100 more than the CG-5 so presumably $899 USD list.
So some questions ...
Type of bearings used on both axis?
Same tripod?
If not is the tripod to mount head attachment the same (can the same accessories like pier extensions be used)?
Same counterweights?
Motor controller board different? (should obviously be different but had to ask)
Height of mount head the same?
Vixen/CG-5 dovetail saddle? Better setup than original?
External DEC cable?
#9
rmollise
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topic starter
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:27 AM
Rod - where can you find information on this particular mount?
I got what little info I have from a dude in the industry, but I see there's a little announcement on it in the Vendor Announcements forum right here on good, old CN...
#10
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:29 AM
Uncle Rod secretly runs Celestron, has for years. He just put that out there to get a little pre-announcement advertising.
Jon
Sigh. If that were true we'd be talkin' about the new C22!
#11
fuzzystuff4ever
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:42 AM
Sounds interesting. Once they fire-sale price the discontinued CG5s I may buy one or two for future use (and spare parts).
Brian
Brian
#12
David Pavlich
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Transmographied
Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:49 AM
Let's all hope that Celestron did a COMPLETE test of the new mount and that it does what it's supposed to do right out of the box. The CG5-GT, especially at its pricepoint, is a tough act to follow.
David
David
#13
MikeBOKC
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:05 AM
I visited with a Celestron rep at the Astronomics grand opening a few months ago and he mentioned this as a coming attraction. I wonder if Celestron is also going to jump into the dual EQ/alt-az mount area like the Meade LX-80. Ioptron seems to be preparing a similar rollout. Lots of neat products in the last few years, with more goodies to come!
#14
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:10 AM
I visited with a Celestron rep at the Astronomics grand opening a few months ago and he mentioned this as a coming attraction. I wonder if Celestron is also going to jump into the dual EQ/alt-az mount area like the Meade LX-80. Ioptron seems to be preparing a similar rollout. Lots of neat products in the last few years, with more goodies to come!
Celestron is, after all, owned by Synta who just introduced an alt-az/EQ GEM, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a CGEM alt-az.
#15
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:12 AM
Autoguider port (which the CG-5 already has)
New motors (which should mean new gearbox and therefore hopefully won't have the 8/3 period errors)
I know this is something of a problem with the CGEM, but I have never seen nor heard tell of it in a CG5... Mr Ed, what say you?
#16
Starhawk
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:28 AM
I sincerely hope Celestron isn't jumping on the LX 80's bandwagon. That's more of a hearse. Given what VX is, I am a bit concerned about the message being sent with the name:
http://en.wikipedia....X_(nerve_agent)
The VX needs to have been wrung out like the EdgeHD evidently was, so the design is known to work and the manufacturing activity's shipped results meet its advertised specifications.
If not, Celestron, ye be warned.
-Rich
http://en.wikipedia....X_(nerve_agent)
The VX needs to have been wrung out like the EdgeHD evidently was, so the design is known to work and the manufacturing activity's shipped results meet its advertised specifications.
If not, Celestron, ye be warned.
-Rich
#17
RTLR 12
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 09:42 AM
All 3 of my CG-5s have an 'Auto Guide' port.
Stan
Stan
#18
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 11:35 AM
I sincerely hope Celestron isn't jumping on the LX 80's bandwagon. That's more of a hearse. Given what VX is, I am a bit concerned about the message being sent with the name:
http://en.wikipedia....X_(nerve_agent)
The VX needs to have been wrung out like the EdgeHD evidently was, so the design is known to work and the manufacturing activity's shipped results meet its advertised specifications.
If not, Celestron, ye be warned.
-Rich
VX nerve gas? What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?
And I don't see how the VX is similar to the LX80, which is a different design altogether.
As to how the new one will pan out? You never know till one is in the hands of the users, but being based on the CG5, it appears, I would hope the introduction will be relatively smooth.
#19
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 11:36 AM
All 3 of my CG-5s have an 'Auto Guide' port.
Stan
Yep, the CG5 has had an ST-4 port since day one.
#20
ghataa
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 11:52 AM
Curious what the weight capacity will be. My CG-5 has performed wonderfully (especially after hypertune!) so hopefully this mount is a step forward!
Apparently this was at CES this week.
George
Apparently this was at CES this week.
George
#21
tjugo
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 12:50 PM
FWIW, not much info but probably soon they will post some videos from CES.
http://www.celestron...celestron-de...
Cheers,
Jose
http://www.celestron...celestron-de...
Cheers,
Jose
#22
Starhawk
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 02:18 PM
StarSense looks interesting- I wonder what it means about having an included hand controller. Is it a NexStar+ style controller included? Will it guide? I want to know!
-Rich
-Rich
#23
rmollise
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 02:22 PM
Curious what the weight capacity will be. My CG-5 has performed wonderfully (especially after hypertune!) so hopefully this mount is a step forward!
Apparently this was at CES this week.
George
According to what I am told, the same weight capacity as before is being advertised, 30-pounds. Will the mount be able to support more for imaging than it does now, which is around the weight of a C8 - guide scope for the current mount? Only time will tell.
#24
MikeBOKC
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 02:43 PM
For what it's worth Astronomics has knocked down the price on the retiring CG-5 to $549 today clearing them out to make room for the new VX model I assume.
#25
cn register 5
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Posted 09 January 2013 - 04:14 PM
I've been beta testing an AVX mount since the end of November.
I think people will like it.
The tripod is almost the same as the AS-GT tripod but has a slightly different top, basically the azimuth control peg is further out.
The mount is slightly bigger than the AS-GT and looks like a baby CGEM. Features are:
RTC
PEC
Good motors and gearboxes - no 8/3 error and no cogging. Totally new motor control with two aux ports as well as the HC and guide ports.
Will track 20 degrees past the meridian.
It uses the Vixen style dovetail but with two beefy bolts.
I was able to set it up for autoguiding and do a PEC check - the original PECTool program works. I haven't been able to do enough to get it fully characterised but as far as I can see the PEC on mine is about 25" and seems reasonably consistent from cycle to cycle.
I think it will work well for imaging with at least the same mass as the AS-GT, probably more.
The firmware in the HC and mount seems pretty good, I found some minor problems but nothing that stopped it working. The HC is Nexstar+ only.
Upgrade does NOT use the HCUpdate or MCUpdate programs, there's an updated CFM program.
If they all work as well as the one I've got they will be good.
Hope this helps,
Chris
I think people will like it.
The tripod is almost the same as the AS-GT tripod but has a slightly different top, basically the azimuth control peg is further out.
The mount is slightly bigger than the AS-GT and looks like a baby CGEM. Features are:
RTC
PEC
Good motors and gearboxes - no 8/3 error and no cogging. Totally new motor control with two aux ports as well as the HC and guide ports.
Will track 20 degrees past the meridian.
It uses the Vixen style dovetail but with two beefy bolts.
I was able to set it up for autoguiding and do a PEC check - the original PECTool program works. I haven't been able to do enough to get it fully characterised but as far as I can see the PEC on mine is about 25" and seems reasonably consistent from cycle to cycle.
I think it will work well for imaging with at least the same mass as the AS-GT, probably more.
The firmware in the HC and mount seems pretty good, I found some minor problems but nothing that stopped it working. The HC is Nexstar+ only.
Upgrade does NOT use the HCUpdate or MCUpdate programs, there's an updated CFM program.
If they all work as well as the one I've got they will be good.
Hope this helps,
Chris
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